Details still unclear in reported shooting at Columbia County prison

What happened at Columbia Correctional Institute is still unclear more than 24 hours after the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office said two inmates were reported shot inside the prison Saturday night.

Prison staff directed questions about the incident to the Florida Department of Corrections. Calls to the Jessica Cary, Department of Corrections director of communications, and her assistant were not returned.

The Sheriff’s Office said about 5:15 p.m., Saturday deputies were called to the prison after a reported stabbing. Before deputies showed up, prison staff updated the Sheriff’s Office that the two inmates were shot.

Saturday night, Cary said in an email “two inmates were injured,” but didn’t specify how. Prison staff were accounted for and safe, she said.

The prison was still on lock-down when a reporter called about 5 p.m. Sunday night.